I have a 2010 4 door Sahara. It has the whole tow package, and is ready to go. In October of this year, I'm moving to AZ and I'll be making the long haul from PA to AZ in the Jeep and towing a 6X12 trailer. I just wanted to start getting a feel for anything I should know in advance prior to my first tow.

It's automatic, and the first thing I was told is to make sure Overdrive is OFF, so it doesn't shift as often. I know to drive carefully and not speed, but is there anything else I should know about towing? I want to make sure I don't do anything wrong and mess up my new jeep.

Give your self Pleanty of breaking distance, seriously these rigs are NOT designed for Towing. Slow as you go and leave plenty of room between you and everyone because that 6X12 will NOT stop on a dime

Thanks for the tips. Good to know I shouldn't drive in 4WD. I definitely won't be towing anything near 10,000 lbs, seeing as though my jeep can only do 3,500. It's just going to be a uhaul trailer since I'm moving, and don't have anywhere to store one if I bought one.

I've towed many things before with my RV, and that was over 40FT, so I'll definitely be fine with being able to brake, and get used to that. Turning as well, I've done. Just wanted to make sure there was no little things I needed to know, which you guys helped with.

Heh Heh, you better have a hardtop, cause you can't rent a U-Haul, with a softtop !!

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottwmckenna

Thanks for the tips. Good to know I shouldn't drive in 4WD. I definitely won't be towing anything near 10,000 lbs, seeing as though my jeep can only do 3,500. It's just going to be a uhaul trailer since I'm moving, and don't have anywhere to store one if I bought one.

I've towed many things before with my RV, and that was over 40FT, so I'll definitely be fine with being able to brake, and get used to that. Turning as well, I've done. Just wanted to make sure there was no little things I needed to know, which you guys helped with.

Not sure if the trailer comes with a spare tire/wheel or not, but if you can I would either rent one, or buy one. Also I think those trailers use serge brakes.. so there might be a small delay in when that thing starts to stop, keep that in mind.

I was going to rent a trailer from AZ to MA from uhaul in 2001. For what they wanted for rental fees I bought a used trailer and sold it later for $50 less than what I paid for it. This was before craigslist. Just a thought.

I contemplated buying one as well, because it's $700 to rent the trailer. However, when I get to AZ, I have nowhere to put the trailer, and I'll have to rent a spot to store the trailer temporarily, and it's just not worth it. On top of that, the trailer that I'd prefer to buy would be much smaller than the 6x12 size that I need for the move.

Does anyone have a clue where I can rent one for much cheaper than that? Initially I was going to get a moving truck, and that was close to $2,000. Complete wrip off.

Remember to do one thing since your new at this.......After you load it and before you leave take the trailer to a PUBLIC SCALE and weigh it. You'd be surprised to see how many times people are way off on the what they THINK it weighs and what it actually weighs.

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I may not be as good for as many times as I once was, but, I'm as good once as I ever was ! ! !

With the trailer rent cost, the extra wear on the Jeep, and the hassle of towing a load, I would seriously look at the belongings and only move things with sentimental value. They sell stuff in AZ, so no use moving junk or anything you haven't used recently. Good luck.

I hear ya coolbreeze. Unfortunately, we're barely bringing anything (we're fitting out entire house into a 5x10 trailer. The only large thing we have is our bed, and unfortunately we spent to much money on the bed to sell it, and get another one like it. Besides that, we have a small dresser, and some other small things. I'm going to get the smallest trailer I can fit everything in it.